Thanks for the kinds words folks.
My home AA group was hardcore. Used the OLD approach plan. We had folks come in from all over the country to get what we had.
We also had folks in a dead run for a easier softer way - like 30 day in MN. *grin*
Now the old meeting place was too small, it had been moved to Whatever a Catholic Campus is called. We were not PC, we used bad language, even amongst the various Clergy, of many faiths and nuns. We smoked in the meeting room and if you didn't like that - leave. Smoke gets in your eyes, move to another chair - or leave. You walk in and YOU may be the one to chair the meeting...and you may be doing so for awhile. We had folks change their minds, didn't want what we had and went back out to prove us wrong. We picked these same folks up from under busted bar stools, the emergency rooms, or in some flea bag hotel.
Too many times have I picked up a drunk, kept pints of booze in them as I sped to a treatment center, now closed. Tell a Trooper " yes I am giving them pints to keep the DT's away" - and Trooper forgot about me speeding- ran front door to the treatment area. Seen more than one with BAC of .35, had one at .40... and he was still carrying on , upright and opening doors for Us an the Drs.
Underneath the hardcore was serious concerns. The nuns would often provide candy bars....to offset the amount of sugar one is used to getting from booze. We always said to eat candy and drink sodas...and to smoke'em if ya got 'em.
We can deal with the smoking and other stuff later, You get drunk and die, wet brained or in a cell...the 3 choices of a active drunk - no guarantee.
First 30 days - attend 60 meeting minimum. Call your sponsoreveryday. Do steps 1- 4 at least.
NO major life changes for 1 year, unless you and your sponsor ( and probably his) agree in the major change. that meant marriage, divorce, quitting smoking, getting engaged, new job, quitting old one, having kids...etc.
The new guy is not able to think clearly . It takes 30 days ( 1 month) for each year you were active to get your thinking back straight. The Drunk is so used to conning, lying, being deceitful, denying...can't be trusted these behaviors are not going to occur after the pink cloud of new sobriety.
I've gone on interventions, had the fun stuff like a person drunk with a gun in hand, a knife in hand, maybe even both parties drunk and the weapon held on the other one. Granted we worked with Dr.s, the LEOs, the Clergy. I have told a fella he had a choice, I would shoot him and he could die drunk right that moment, or he could put the gun down, and have one more chance , and if chose to die drunk after experienceing sobriety- that was his choice. He put the gun down. The LEO, Clergy was quite relieved that were there as well. LEO didn't charge him with the weapon dealie " that was your one free card from me", LEO was a Friend of Bill W. He was making sure the wife, and child was safe...my choice to take the drunk...I had to for MY sobriety.
I'm still hardcore, I don't care if you don't like smoking, or bad language...I'm gonna do what I do and say what I say and more likely be smoking when I say and do. Like the Hardcore there for me when I came in- well I for sure didn't know what was best for me. The new guys I dealt / deal with - didn't/ don't know either.
Now under all this hardcore - is a serious concern. You will not find anyone that will go to bat for you with a judge, employer, family - anything better than we. If you are willing, honest, and doing the steps.
" I play for keeps - lest I not make back alive" .
I really sucks to have to bury someone that died sober. It really sucks to bury the ones that were and ended up dying drunk. I really sucks to find a guy in flea bag hotel, take a pulse, call the LEO and hear the confirmation the guy is dead and he never attempted sobriety.
It really really sucks to hear a guy that became sober at 16, stayed that way for 34 years, decided he could have a drink when he turned 50, died drunk 3 wks later.
One day at a time, one thing at a time.
The Reality is, the cliche's on the wall are nice, the BIG Book is great. HP is wonderful - Sometimes all one can do is hold onto the chair and white knuckle that mother.